People aren't "sitting together in a room" together for today's multiplayer, so they "can’t really talk to each other." Not a lot use voice chat anyway as you get "match-made with strangers".

In our interview with Dan Berlin where we discussed Far Cry 3's multiplayer, he confirmed they choose silence over voice because that's what most players choose anyway.

We asked if he'd say if "multiplayer by way of voice communications is a failed venture?"

"Yes I do," replied Ubisoft's Dan Berlin. The developers have opted to use hard-coded methods to promote the co-operative nature of Far Cry 3's multiplayer team play experiences; voice just isn't popular enough.

"The multiplayer today isn’t really people sitting together in a room, so they can’t really talk to each other."

"Not a lot of people use the voice functionality anyway – I never use it, I’m just sitting alone at home playing on my couch, and I get match-made with strangers, people who I’ve never met before, so that’s why we brought in the silent communication into the game, the backend systems that help you with communications."